Protesters voice their concerns outside the DNC headquarters on Capitol Hill in April.

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) – In another bid to restore party unity, the Democratic National Committee voted unanimously Sunday to restore full convention voting rights to Florida and Michigan delegates.

The move, which had been sought by former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton since shortly after the primary season began, was endorsed by presumptive nominee Barack Obama last month.

Florida and Michigan Democrats had been penalized by the DNC Rules Committee for holding their primaries in January, in violation of party rules. Under the initial penalty, Florida and Michigan were stripped of their delegates, and barred from attending the convention.

Clinton and Obama agreed not to campaign in either state and Obama’s name did not appear on the Michigan ballot. Clinton won both primaries in January, and - locked in a tight battle to win the nomination - urged for full delegations from both states to be seated. Her effort failed, and she conceded to Obama shortly after the primary season ended.

In June, the Rules and Bylaws Committee had voted to allow both states’ delegations to be seated at the convention, with each delegate awarded half a vote divided between the candidates based on a formula devised by party officials.

The number of delegates required to claim the Democratic nomination will rise as a result of Sunday’s decision.

soundoff(431 Responses)

celia

100 % agree with Sally. Obama is looking more and more like George W. Bush, especially with picking an attack dog like Biden – Domocrats hated Cheney. I thought we were going to see CHANGE? Well it is the some old thing we are going to get with Obama – a kleptocrat!!!

August 24, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

libs be dopes

The Dems can't seem to figure out how to run their Party............

yet they want to run the Country?

I seems rules only apply to those subject to the rulers, but not the rulers themselves.

Add one more ring to this mess and make it a three ring Democratic Party circus.

August 24, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

Jeffrey

Too little. Too late.

August 24, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

sidney nyc

CNN SUCKS MSNBC IS THE BEST HARDBALL IS COMING ON RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT REAL NEWS TURN IT ON CNN SUCKS

THERE JUST LOOKING TO START FIGHTS

PUMA GO VOTE FOR MCAIN WE DONT CARE.

OBAMA 08

August 24, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

Linda of Atlanta

The Democrats should have followed the rules and kept Florida and MI at the half vote count. Democratic Republics can only function if rules are followed.

August 24, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

ABG

To All Delegates from Florida & Michigan:

Please vote at the convention for the candidate who actually won your states, Hillary Clinton.

What a sham convention! Questionable dealings at the caucuses and underhanded decisions by the DNC hijacked this nomination.

I hope all the delegates vote for the candidates that won their states, not the handpicked candidate by the Democratic party.

August 24, 2008 04:03 pm at 4:03 pm |

Brian

Darn it! Obama is making it hard for the PUMA;s to HATE him.

Who am I kidding, PUMA's are built on hate.

August 24, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

amanzi1

Griff, are you making threats on Obama's life? CNN moderator, can some one please report Griff to the FBI. Blog posts are easy to trace.

August 24, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Lisa

Yeah after the DNC robbed Hillary of the nomination. Obama, Obama, Obama, this is a crook of all crooks. He fought hard not to include the Florida and Michigan vote. Now all of a sudden after he kicked Hillary out, disrespected her and Bill and think he's going to get our votes?

I would never vote for Obama, NEVER!!!

August 24, 2008 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Nowhere Man

To the Idiotic DNC Committee -> So, what's the point of having any rules? How many times did we hear, they broke the rules, they broke the rules, THEY BROKE THE RULES! Now? Uh, nevermind. Certainly screwed up the whole primary process. Well done, you bunch of idiots, well done! With them included now, it'll be LOLF if Hillary now finds a way to steal it from Barack!

August 24, 2008 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Will

a lot of reublican trolls on the boards today!

August 24, 2008 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Republicans Unite!

I love you Democrats! What a bunch of squabbling, bickering teen-age girls. This is like campaigning against a bunch of high-school cliques. What a joke. We're laughing at you. That's why you will NEVER win. Republicans RULE FOREVER! Woohoo!

August 24, 2008 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

grrr

It never ceases to amaze me what one finds when rocks are turned over – as in the ulterior motive of some when to count and when not to count the wishes of constituents.

August 24, 2008 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |

Anonymous

Hillary has done nothing but divided the party and all her supporters can't see that she wanted Fla. and Mich. to count when it was convenient for her. Now she wants someone to retire her debt. She should have bowed out like everyone else when she knew it wasn't possible for her to win. She is the real sore loser.She wanted to prove something and she did ,how divisive she can be if she doesn't get her way.

August 24, 2008 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |

Alan

Sally stop whining would you please.

August 24, 2008 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |

amanzi1

Congrats. Former democrat, I guess then you believe that women should not be allowed access to ANY form of birth control. that will be the reality by 2012. Also, that Pat Robertson and the rest of the cult will be choosing our judicial branch of the US. Perhaps that pleases you even more.

August 24, 2008 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |

Rob

I wonder: when the diehard Obama haters get it through their heads - that Hillary Clinton agreed to strip these two states of their delegates last year until events proved she needed them? When will they stop painting her as some poor, helpless victim of the big, bad DNC? Hillary met the enemy, and it was her!

August 24, 2008 04:08 pm at 4:08 pm |

Dan, MA

This is just a gesture to shut up the people of these states. They broke the rules and should have been outright discounted, so they should have been happy to get half-votes. But the people of these two states weren't happy with that, and my guess is they'll always have something to complain about.

August 24, 2008 04:08 pm at 4:08 pm |

Draft Board Calling

Hello? My name is John McCain.

August 24, 2008 04:09 pm at 4:09 pm |

Kevin

What a sham

August 24, 2008 04:12 pm at 4:12 pm |

jermey

This is what should happen at the convention.

1) Elected delegates vote (full votes to MI and FL)

2) superdelegates vote based on their constituents

Then see who the nominee is. None of this superdelegates pulling their weight. Otherwise it is nothing more than a coronation.

August 24, 2008 04:12 pm at 4:12 pm |

Trang, Fremont, CA

Hey. Biden was great. But he couldn't pull in the people and the money.

Hillary was okay. But she couldn't pull in the money. She still cannot pull in the money.

Obama has the ground people and can pull in the money. It's the logical choice. He can be young, but he gets young people gets excited and engaged. He has local programs to teach young kids leadership skills, get reengaged w/ the local community. Now that he wins, he picks Biden, I think it's a great choice. Young kids, please if you have the time, participate in these local programs. Go on his website, participate, and be a leader in your local community. It's his gift, and he is sharing his gift with you. Be a community organizer.

August 24, 2008 04:12 pm at 4:12 pm |

amanzi1

Hang on one sec. How can Michigan be fair in ANY way if Obama was not even on the ballot? How can you Clinton fanatics (now even to the point of now selling our country down the toilet), claim a state knowing BEFORE the primary that the vote would not count and KNOWING that Obama was not even on the ballot?
I voted for Hillary and I am sad she did not win, but Obama did and I will not sell out our rights or our children's future down the toilet just because the primary did not go the way I wanted. Clinton knew the primary rules but she did not have good support from her strategy team, that is all. She lost. She will be back, but not just yet,

August 24, 2008 04:12 pm at 4:12 pm |

brian

Hillary needs to leave the Democratic Party and become an Independent like Joe Liberman. The Party has already turned it's back on you, so get even!!!!!!!!!!

August 24, 2008 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |

Lisa

Whiners,Whiners,Whiners grow up already. You all are little kids complaining all the time. Vote for McCrusty if you want, just do it, but please stop the crying and whining!!!!!!!!